DMCWORLD checks in with the superstar duo as they jet off on their big Brazilian Tour…
Hey guys welcome back to DMCWORLD. At last we tie you down again! Where in the world are you at the moment?
“We’re currently home Dan, tomorrow we are leaving to Brazil for our massive Smash The Carnival tour.”
The tour kicks off at Green Valley – Brazil is right at the top of it’s game right now…some would say there is no better atmosphere anywhere in the world?
“We’d be inclined to agree too! So much is happening in the Brazilian dance scene right, it’s very exciting. We’re very happy to get back there for what is going to be our biggest tour of the country to date. The crowds in Brazil seem to be really into the music but there’s also this energy that comes from the dancefloor which, as DJs, we really love to experience.”
What is your favourite memory from Carnival Week Brazil?
“Ah this is a difficult one to answers because there are so many. Carnival week is just completely over the top! It’s how we like it!”
You were in Costa Rica and Mexico last week, please tell me that wasn’t your hotel room in Costa Rica on the beach?
“Yes it was!! We did our Mexico tour which was amazing and then we ended up in Costa Rica for a few days to relax at the beach before our show at the Mexico Pepsi Center, which was a sold-out event! The promoter in Costa Rica arranged for us to stay at a nice house on the beach to chill which was really cool. It is really beautiful scenery around there.”
Tell us about The World’s Largest Paint Party you have just rocked?
“Insane!! The crowd was huge and the vibrancy of the place was nuts. Everything about the show was fucking insane. One of the highlights of our career for sure.”
How many air miles have you two got last time you checked?
“Dimitri: Wow!! How many zero’s can you fit on your website man??”
Mike: “Lots, I’ve lost count!”
After last year’s unbelievable studio success you have started 2014 in amazing style. Let’s kick off with your new collaboration with Steve Aoki and Autoerotique ‘Feedback’ on Dim Mak Records. An epic, peak time anthem if ever we heard one! Talk us through the history of the tune…
“It’s always fun to work with Steve, we have known him for a long time and have done a bunch of tracks and tours together. So naturally a new track was ready to be born, in 2013 we started working on “Feedback” together with Steve & Autoerotique.”
{http://soundcloud.com/dimitrivegasandlikemike/aoki-autoerotique-vs-dvlm-feedback}
Nice to see you supporting the Ban The Oil Drilling Campaign on your Facebook site this week. A really fucking dreadful business. What though are your plans for summer in Ibiza 2014…?
“Yeah, it’s fucking disgraceful! We all need to get behind that campaign before these corporate fucks ruin another corner of the world. Regarding our plans, we’re still in the planning stages so unfortunately we can’t reveal anything just yet but rested assured Dan…we’ll definitely be back this summer…just try and stop us!! Ibiza is like a home from home to us so we always make sure to make a trip there.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…?
“Hmm…Mammoth, Ocarina, Tremor the new collab with Martin Garrix, Feedback, Sentido our collab with Steve Angelo, the rest you need to see us at the show to find out…”
We cannot speak to two of our favourite producers without a mention of 2013 – and wow what a year! A massive congratulations for the award of winning the most Buzz Chart No. 1’s for 2013…a massive 7 smashes across an incredible year! Is it fair to say that last year was your best yet?
“Thank you! Last year was like a dream come true for us. We had those number 1 singles with Buzz (and Beatport) which was something so very important to us. We played some of the most incredible festivals like Creamfields, EDC and our spiritual home, Tomorrowland and the first ever TomorrowWorld, we and then closing 2013 with our Sportpaleis Arena shows in Belgium for 35.000 people. And of course being voted the 6th best DJs in the world was surreal! We’re very grateful for how it turned out. So thank you for the fans for supporting and believing in us.”
Your production output in 2013 was incredible. We’ve picked some of our favourites from 2013, please give us a few words on each…maybe what memory it evokes, the first time you played it or just a personal thing about the tune…
Madness – Crowds going mad and we partying with them in this big fizzing energy!! Great times.
Project T – Always conjures thoughts of peace and unity on the dancefloor. Embrace and enjoy!
Wakanda – This one reminds us of our label and us really Smashing The House of events during our tour.
Turn It Up – This collaboration was a lot of fun to make and really proud of all the support it picked up from guys Tiësto, David Guetta, Steve Aoki, Sebastian Ingrosso etc. Party time when the play button is press on this sucker!
Stampede – The name says it all. A great DV&LM club track in our opinion.
G.I.P.S.Y – Something hypnotic about this beat. It just grabs the crowd and throws them in the air. Crazy record and each time we drop it feels like the first time!
Oscarima – Wolfpack and DV&LM bring home the madness. A Tomorrowland beast and official anthem. This record took a little time to come together but we’re glad because it’s so special to us and the TL faithful! What a record and what a year for TL that was!!
Chattahoochee – Anyone who’s seen us play this record knows the damage this can do on the dancefloor. Reminds us of wild summer days amongst the festival crews of the world!! Bring on summer 2014!
Mammoth – This record took a life of its own and now has become a ‘mammoth’ record in our sets and requested by all the fans!!
Find Tomorrow – This Tomorrowland anthem is a beast and with Katy’s added magic it’s become a masterpiece to us. We’re very very proud of her contribution to this single and the place it has found within the hearts of the audience. Our grandparents love this record…which is all the reaction you could ever ask for!
Loving the video for G.I.P.S.Y. – have you ever hitch-hiked or picked up any mad hitch-hikers?
“Thanks man! Yeah we actually got picked up after a gig, many many years ago. It was more like after an after party. These crazy girls and guys picked up but instead of taking us home they took us to this other party and we ended up DJing with their buddies until late into the afternoon. Was a fun and unexpected adventure!”
Video link :
Tomorrowland as you say it, is not a festival, “it is a way of life”. Tickets went on sale and sold out in a flash for this year’s event. Is this the best festival in the world?
“Well it’s not a festival, its a way of life…and as far as a “way of life” goes, its THE BEST way of life! Tomorrowland is unreal. It’s incredible and something you need to experience to really understand. For us nothing comes close to it.”
At this year’s Ultra 2 Weekend you came onto the stage and uttered the immortal words to the crowd…”you guys are probably wondering who the fuck we are”. Do you think you’ll be asking the same question this year?
“Haha, probably not! It’s interesting how our profile has grown since that gig last year. We’ve come a long way and it’s amazing to see the support from the fans. We’re so grateful to those guys for all of that! We’re very keen to engage with new fans and showcase our music to more people around the world. Ultra is a fantastic platform for this, as is any festival event..but we’re very proud and honoured to be in a position now that people know who we are as artists.”
You are two of our most prolific producers, do you ever get writers block/studio freeze – if so how do you overcome it?
“We’ve had in the past but not currently. We have too many ideas for that to happen. We’ve been working on so many new tracks that we have actually got to reduce the amount of singles we have so we can fit them all in to our production plans. If we did get it again though you only need to go and perform at a club or a festival to get that vibe and energy to inspire us again.”
What do you do to chill out away from the studio? Other than sleep…!
Dimitri: “To be honest we’re still very much workaholics. I spend all my time focused on music.”
Mike: “I’m the same although I do like to take a break and go to the gym. It’s important for me to keep healthy for when on stage. I also love to cook, try out new dishes.”
Who are some of the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“I think we have a good relationship with most of the other producers out there to name a few Tiësto, Hardwell, Steve Aoki, W&W, Martin Garrix, Steve Angelo, Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso…are all making incredible beats at the moment.”
How do you think your production has changed/advanced/improved over the last 12 months?
“We’ve become a tighter in our productions. There’s this added precision what we’re doing in the studio and during the start and end process of making the record. Sometimes it can be difficult to bounce of each other when you’re working and travelling together all the time, but we’ve found a good method that works for us and this is definitely shining through in the music.”
And finally, what is coming out from you guys studio wise?
“In April we have our collaboration with Martin Garrix called ‘Tremor’ coming out, We also have a lot of new music scheduled for the summer too. Alongside all of this we’re working on an album project, we have a few tracks finished but still a long way to go before its completed but hopefully we’ll have more news about it soon. Next week we release the official music video for our single ‘G.I.P.S.Y.’..so keep yours out for that because as you know, it’s really cool!””
Thank you guys, appreciate your time.
“Thank Dan. Catch you in Miami man!!”
www.facebook.com/dimitrivegasandlikemike
www.twitter.com/likemike
www.twitter.com/dimitrivegas
